5 Reasons You Should Visit Florida This Cold Winter

Have you ever visited Florida in winter?

During the winter, Florida doesn’t just attract short-term visitors hoping to soak in some sunshine and hit the theme parks. It also attracts “snowbirds,” people from up north who go down to Florida over the winter to escape the harshest weather.

And you can’t really blame them. When the rest of the US and Canada is covered with ice, the sunshine state’s habitants are in their swimsuits and flip-flops!

So for those hoping to trade in winter this year for a destination where you can feel the sun on your skin, Florida is the State for you. Let’s look at some fantastic things to see and do in Florida during winter. You can do it all while enjoying the sun!

The weather Can’t Be Beat

The coldest it’s ever been in this state is -2 degrees! But don’t expect to see those temperatures again anytime soon. In reality, the coldest days are usually around 30 to 40 degrees, and they don’t last very long!

You’ll know when the sunshine state is getting a “cold breeze” in the winter because everyone will have their plants covered up with sheets to avoid frostbite, just a random Florida fact!

In the winter months, Florida is the warmest state in the continental US, which is a massive bonus for everyone looking to escape grey skies and slushy streets elsewhere.

Because Florida covers so much land vertically, it stretches through a few different ranges of temperatures during the winter months, with somewhere like Key West at the very tip of Florida’s south coast being the warmest, and places nearer Alabama and Georgia, like Gainesville, reaching colder temperatures.

The Theme Parks

Whether you want to visit the Magic Kingdom at Christmas or spend some time going “Back To The Future” at Universal, wintertime is perfect for visiting Florida’s theme parks. We all know that you get classics like Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld in Orlando.

Still, you shouldn’t forget about the classic gems like Busch Gardens in Tampa. It’s a great day trip from Orlando.

Or you can opt for the fun LEGOLand Florida, perfect for the little ones in your family and located in Winter Haven, which is about an hour’s drive south of Orlando.

It can be hard in the summer months to nourish yourself by walking around the theme parks all day in the heat. Hence, a winter theme park visit is much more relaxing.

You can also see plenty of decorations and festive things to do, like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Grinchmas at Universal Studios.

Tallahassee Museum

While we’re on the subject of what you should visit, the Tallahassee Museum offers up a side of education, aside from the “fun in the sun!” When you visit a destination that is warm during winter, you need to make the most of spending some time outdoors.

And the Tallahassee Museum is the perfect way to enjoy the sunshine. This is an outdoor lakeside museum across 52 acres that features native American wildlife, nature trails, events & zipline tours.

This one site combines North Florida’s history with nature and wildlife and is rated as one of the best museums in the entire sunshine state.

Beaches

Yes, you can hit the beach even though it’s winter! There are plenty of options, from Melbourne’s beautiful beaches to those of Clearwater.

On many days, you’ll find that it’s warm enough to lie out in the sun and do all of your typical beach activities, though, of course, the water will be much colder than in the summer, so you should come prepared with a swim top or water shoes to keep yourself a bit warmer.

For many people, the winter beach time walks are the reason for the season. While the ocean breeze blows, you’ll feel the sand between your toes, and not a hint of snow will be in sight. It can be easy to ignore that other parts of the world have fallen into darkness and frost!

Historic Cities

From the ultimate historical city in the state, St. Augustine, to the higher education history in places like Gainesville and citrus grove history in Orlando, Florida has a lot of history to explore, and it’s entertaining to do it in the winter when you aren’t feeling like you’re walking through a sauna because of the humidity.

St. Augustine always holds a fantastic light display and has a variety of things for visitors to see. So be sure to pack your camera if you go.

At the same time, other cities also try to get in on the festive spirit and put on their own shows, including farmer’s markets, outdoor caroling, and other activities for families to spend some time learning about Florida’s heritage while enjoying the sun.

Know of any other hidden gems in the state we should know about? Please feel free to leave us a comment and tell us all about it!

We hope you found some inspiration for your next winter trip. And if you love the sunshine state, we’ve got much more to offer you! We recommend you also check out: 7 Underrated Florida Vacations You’ll Love